Fight the Fog Friday

I had such great intentions to blog yesterday and the day before. I had such great plans yesterday to post Thursday is for Thankfulness, and also for Throwbacks because I hadn't posted Wodehouse Wednesday the day before.... but oh well.
I will fight the fog.
I will start reading Chesterton.
Sometimes I will fight the flab as well (sometimes I just eat potatoes and bacon).
The hobbits have made it to Bree.
Here's the Wodehouse anyway. Because one needs it.


"I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled." P.G. Wodehouse, the Code of the Woosters

"I'm not absolutely certain of the facts, but I rather fancy it's Shakespeare who says that it's always just when a fellow is feeling particularly braced with things in general that Fate sneaks up behind him with the bit of lead piping." P.G. Wodehouse, Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest

"Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, 'So, you're back from Moscow, eh?'" P.G. Wodehouse, Mike and Psmith

"A certain critic--for such men, I regret to say, do exist--made the nasty remark about my last novel that is contained 'all the old Wodehouse characters under different names.' He has probably by now been eaten by bears, like the children who made mock of the prophet Elisha: but if he still survives he will not be able to make a similar charge against Summer Lightning. With my superior intelligence, I have outgeneralled the man this time by putting in all the old Wodehouse character under the same names. Pretty silly it will make him feel, I rather fancy." P.G. Wodehouse, Summer Moonshine

"It was one of those cases where you approve the broad, general principle of an idea but can't help being in a bit of a twitter at the prospect of putting it into practical effect. I explained this to Jeeves, and he said much the same thing had bothered Hamlet." P.G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Morning

"I pressed down on the mental accelerator. The old lemon throbbed fiercely. I got an idea." P.G. Wodehouse

Tuesday is for Tolkien

Apparently I get in moods with particular proclivity for alliteration. It seems to jumpstart my blogging at least, if not my actual creativity. 

Autumn has come. The weather is only a dash cooler, but the air has that distinct clarity that renders color and shape more solidly, and puts my aesthetic senses on high alert. Texture and light have become again, dramatic elements of my universe. More solid it seems. More visible and tangible than at other times. My mind turns again to art, to education, to cleanliness.

My Tuesday was also for Ted Talks today, like this one that I listened to while scrubbing the stairs (so hard the paint came off too). If you liked that one, check out this one that comes after.

But my day began with 'A Shortcut to Mushrooms' on my morning commute, easing into 'A Conspiracy Unmasked' as I drove homeward after work, (also brief friend-chats, reading from Weight of Glory, having the mechanic glance at my car, and picking up mounds of lovely food from Aldi).

mushroom pie

So pleased to have Tolkien and Lewis bouncing around in my head these days. May it ever be so! Hoping to add some Chesterton in the days ahead, as well as some study on Jack himself, and probably some perusal of PG Wodehouse while I'm at it. Also, books that come to mind for this sort of weather (coming at you from two very different genres, get ready): The Reluctant Widow, and Innocence. Must collect those from the library before too long. Inter-library loan here I come!

And without further ado, let me hand you over to the Tolkien himself, by way of Gildor Inglorion, and Faramir, Ranger of Ithilien (still my favorite)

'Elves seldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill.'

~three is company~

"Sit at peace! And be comforted, Samwise. If you seem to have stumbled, think that it was fated to be so. Your heart is shrewd as well as faithful, and saw clearer than you eyes. For strange though it may seem, it was safe to declare this to me. It may even help the master that you love. It shall turn to his good, if it is in my power. So be comforted."

~the window to the west~

'For myself,' said Faramir, 'I would see the White Tree in flower again in the courts of the kings, and the Silver Crown return, and Minas Tirith in peace: Minas Anor again as of old, full of light, high and fair, beautiful as a queen among other queens: not a mistress of many slaves, nay, not even a kind mistress of willing slaves. War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour  all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Númenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom. Not feared, save as men may fear the dignity of a man, old and wise.'
~the window to the west

Monday Musings

Listening to Psalms on my early morning commute

Making and drinking plenty of coffee for work

Chillin' with the girls on the kitchen floor

Making homemade noodles and chicken soup

Reading Lewis and Tolkien

Falling asleep sitting up & heading for an afternoon shower

Tacos and house talks with the girls

Thinking of ways to utilize and stretch my brain

Anticipating some autumnal weather this coming week

from yesterday

I was born longing for days like these. Days when the autumn wind comes rushing in, and the tips of my toes are cold against the floor, even through my socks. When gold-corduroy jackets and soft button-downs are called for, and rain begins half-way through the morning. Days when I look just right without eye-makeup, and dress in cozy grays for the coffee-shop morning. When geese periodically honk overhead all throughout the day, and I notice the nearby treetops are burnished orange and impending crimson.

I was born with longings too deep to describe... for beauty, for change like leaves, for sky and hope, for love and family and feasting, and for more that cannot be explained or quantified. I long for God, more every year. And I'm beginning to ask for more of him when I long for all those glorious things that he likes to give me anyway.

Like today, when I get to spend hours of the afternoon making food for the week: chicken and veggies in the oven, fried rice on the stove; hot cider-tea for The Hobbit movie night tonight. A fresh pot of tea, and some positively joyous internet-perusals. Motherdy passed along the link to this gem. I look forward to her blogging of course, but check out the link to her Pinterest boards! --to die for. An aesthetic kindred, right down to hobbit-holes and narrowboats. I also read a bit from Lanier, and scrolled through a bit of homeyness a la Susan Branch.

It's September for real

I like to think of my birthday as a beginning. A first. September makes that easy. The brisk days are beginning. It is time to start wearing my goldenrod-colored jackets again. The change of tone in sky and barometer bring on a depth of poetic soul that I crave, and that only resinates just so with the timbre of autumn. Tea and cider are in fashion again, along with the he-who-must-not-be-named of coffee: I'm not actually anti-pumpkin-spice (nor in league for the suppression of eggs) but one must brace oneself. I must admit, though I must have made hundreds, I've never actually drunk one, not being fond of the effect sugar and dairy have on me.

It is time to think about soup again; a good time to start a new Bible-reading schedule, get back into daily yoga, perhaps blogging. A good time to find solitude among trees and ache for civilization in the falling of leaves.
Every time is a time to search around for the best playlist, or create a new one to suite the mood. Just around the corner are the days for Vince Guaraldi... I thought I smelled gingersnaps while I was balancing in tree earlier.
I found an enamel-covered cast-iron dutch-oven (whew, what hyphenation!) at the Salvation Army, which made me nearly giddy with joy.
More cleaning and decorating is on the docket... Who knows when I'll get to those. No matter.

This year, September began with more than the usual amount of excitement and ceremony. Some dear friends got married last week (already it seems quite an age ago) and so the days surrounding were busy with preparation and with all the many, very dear people who rallied round for the big day. Those were unforgettable days, filled with laughter and hard work, prayer, soccer, and dancing. I was blessed to be a part of that time.
The ceremony was magically beauteous, held among drooping trees and beside running water, saluted from above by v's of geese headed south.

My birthday was nestled in there among the festivities, unforgotten. I wore my happiest dress, and when I opened my door in the morning I was met by a stair-well full of roommates ready to wake me up. There were pancakes with candles, pounds of bacon, coffee....😍 and early morning conversation, which is a favorite of mine.

As I embark on my twenty-fourth year of life, I contemplate the world before me with not a little amount of amusement, excitement, and peace. I am ready to be surprised; planning to be amazed. This last year has been harder and better than many I have known. My scope for what God can and will do, for what he loves to do, and for what he does that I love, has continued to expand. My world gets bigger, and more beautiful; the rock I stand on is more solid than physicality could make it. I may be unsure of many things, but I am certain that I will see the goodness of the Lord. And I will continue to praise him whom my soul longs for. And that the One who cannot lie has declared me whiter than snow.

There is no better news than that.

And these days I'm quite exhausted. I find myself napping most days, falling asleep in random places: chairs, the car (not while driving... usually), during movies of course, the bath. Worry not, should soon be more or less caught up. But weeks of festivity can wear you out! While still in recovery mode, I've been enjoying NCIS LA which finally came through my library. And the last couple of days I have so enjoyed Adriene's Shakti practice, and yoga for the spine.

And this video is amazing and crazy inspiring. Listen to Sam Dancer and see if he doesn't make your list of coolest humans:

Shout out to my brother Will who's competing at the Granite Games this weekend!